Mesut Ozil is an easy target for mischievous, some might say cruel, banter. There’s the fact he is supposed to be one of the world’s best midfielders but has frequently been outshone by Francis Coquelin. Or his penchant for posting topless photos of himself on Instagram. Or the fact he has been trying to leave Arsenal for a year but the only team that wants him is Fenerbahce, who are even worse than Arsenal. The guy’s a joke, right?

But could Mesut have the last laugh? Rumours of the German’s potential move to Barcelona – who are definitely better than Arsenal – have been gathering pace in recent weeks, and today’s Sun appears to have uncovered the details.

The tabloid says the move is being brokered by a “Nou Camp transfer guru” named Raul Sanllehi, who has apparently “closed the deal” to take Ozil to Catalonia in January for £20m.

Just a few weeks to go, then, before Mesut can quit the Premier League and stick two fingers up at anyone who suggested he has ever played worse than Francis Coquelin.

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But there is a small snag, namely that nobody at Barcelona apart from Raul Sanllehi has approved the deal. Not the sporting director Pep Segura, not the president Josep Maria Bartomeu, and certainly not the manager Oscar Valverde.

The trio reportedly remain “unconvinced” that it’s worth spending £20m on a player whose price tag will drop to zero in the summer, and who is probably not better than Philippe Coutinho.

So Ozil’s fate rests solely in the hands of Raul Sanllehi, who sounds like a more dubious character every time you read his name.

Arsenal make Goretzka summer priority

On the plus side for Ozil, the Gunners have already identified the man they want to replace him – it’s his fellow German Leon Goretzka.

The Mirror says the 22-year-old Schalke midfielder is Arsene Wenger’s “No 1 target” for next summer, when his contract will expire and he will – like Ozil – be available for nothing.

There’s a small snag here too though, which is that Goretzka is also wanted by Bayern Munich and Manchester City, among others, and he may prefer to sign for one of them instead. Wenger’s failed pursuit of last summer’s “No1 target” Thomas Lemar doesn’t inspire much confidence either.

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Meanwhile, Everton striker Henry Onyekuru is looking like the club’s best summer signing without ever having kicked a ball for them, which kind of makes sense when you consider how bad the Toffees have been. The Mirror says the Nigerian – currently on loan at Anderlecht – is wanted by Manchester United and Barcelona and could be set for a big-money move at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, United have been “boosted” by the news that Gareth Bale is one of eight players Real Madrid will put up for sale next summer (Manchester Evening News), Leicester City are leading the race to sign New York City’s former Old Trafford starlet Jack Harrison (Talksport) and ex-Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart is wanted by Indonesian side Bali United (Sun). The chance to play in the league where Carlton Cole most recently appeared will surely be too great an honour for the Dutchman to turn down.